FTC BANS GENERAL NUTRITION FROM MAKING FALSE AD CLAIMS

Pamela SherrodCHICAGO TRIBUNE

A Federal Trade Commission judge has issued an order barring General Nutrition Inc. from making ''false and unsubstantiated'' advertising claims that any of its products can prevent or reduce disease in humans.

The ruling Monday by Judge Montgomery K. Hyun upholds a March, 1984, complaint by the FTC which charged that General Nutrition`s ads for its Healthy Greens products were deceptive.

In his ruling, Hyun barred the company from making ''false and unsubstantiated advertising claims in the future for any product marketed for its ability to prevent or reduce the risk of any disease in humans.''

Hyun said the Pittsburgh-based company`s advertising for its Healthy Greens vitamin pill was deliberately false, misleading and deceptive'' in claiming the product ''may reduce your chances of getting cancer.'' The pills contained dehydrated vegetables, vitamins and minerals, according to the FTC. Hyun said another General Nutrition ad cited a study by the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council implying that Healthy Greens was ''just possibly your best hedge against cancer.''

Hyun said the company`s ''unconscionable, false and misleading''

advertising tactics were not confined to a few isolated cases and were part of a continuing pattern.